Rensselaeris a city located along theIroquois RiverinMarion Township,Jasper County,Indiana,United States. The population was 5,859 at the 2010 census,[4]up from 5,294 at the 2000 census. The city is thecounty seatof Jasper County.[5]Saint Joseph's Collegeis located just south of the city limits.
Rensselaer, Indiana | |
|---|---|
 Jasper County Courthouse | |
 Location of Rensselaer in Jasper County, Indiana | |
| Coordinates:40°56′15″N87°10′06″W/ 40.93750°N 87.16833°W[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Jasper |
| Townships | Marion,Newton |
| Platted | June 12, 1839 |
| Incorporated | December 8, 1858 |
| Named for | James Van Rensselaer |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jeff Phillips (R) |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.73 sq mi (17.44 km2) |
| • Land | 6.73 sq mi (17.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 659 ft (201 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,733 |
| • Density | 852.11/sq mi (328.99/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6(CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5(CDT) |
| ZIP code | 47978 |
| Area code | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-63792[3] |
| GNISfeature ID | 2396349[1] |
| Website | cityofrensselaerin |
History
edit
This settlement, first platted on June 12, 1839, was originally named "Newton" and was established at the rapids of the Iroquois River. By 1844, it had been renamed "Rensselaer", after James Van Rensselaer, a merchant fromUtica, New York,who came to the area after his business failed in thePanic of 1837.He took over the land from Joseph D. Yeoman, who had established a farm some years earlier and had begun to plan the village.[6]
St. Joseph Indian Normal Schoolwas established in 1888 bySt. Katherine Drexel,an heiress fromPhiladelphia,who donated $50,000 for the education ofCatholicAmerican Indian boys. The school trained 60 boys annually until 1896. The school was operated by theBureau of Catholic Indian Missions.
In addition to St. Joseph Indian Normal School, theJasper County Courthouse,Oren F. and Adelia Parker House,Rensselaer Carnegie Library,andRensselaer Courthouse Square Historic Districtare listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[7][8][9]
Geography
editRensselaer is located southwest of the center of Jasper County.[10]It is bordered to the south by the unincorporated community ofCollegeville,home to Saint Joseph's College. TheIroquois River,a tributary of theKankakee River,hence part of theIllinois Riverwatershed, flows from east to west through the southern part of the city.
U.S. Route 231andIndiana State Road 114intersect in the downtown area. US-231 leads north 20 miles (32 km) toDeMotteand south 12 miles (19 km) toRemington,while State Road 114 leads east 13 miles (21 km) toU.S. Route 421and west 3.5 miles (5.6 km) toInterstate 65.Via I-65, Rensselaer is 42 miles (68 km) north ofLafayetteand 54 miles (87 km) south ofGary.
According to the 2010 census, Rensselaer has a total area of 3.86 square miles (10.00 km2), of which 3.8 square miles (9.84 km2) (or 98.45%) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) (or 1.55%) is water.[11]
Climate
editHumid continental climate is a climatic classification typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is relatively well distributed year-round in many areas with this climate, while others may see a marked reduction in wintry precipitation and even a wintertime drought. TheKöppen Climate Classificationsubtype for this climate is "Dfa".(Hot Summer Continental Climate).[12]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 241 | — | |
| 1860 | 535 | 122.0% | |
| 1870 | 617 | 15.3% | |
| 1880 | 968 | 56.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,455 | 50.3% | |
| 1900 | 2,255 | 55.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,393 | 6.1% | |
| 1920 | 2,912 | 21.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,798 | −3.9% | |
| 1940 | 3,214 | 14.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,072 | 26.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,740 | 16.4% | |
| 1970 | 4,688 | −1.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,944 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,045 | 2.0% | |
| 2000 | 5,294 | 4.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,859 | 10.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,733 | −2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] | |||
Demographics
edit2010 census
editAt the2010 censusthere were 5,859 people, 2,336 households, and 1,517 families living in the city. The population density was 1,541.8 inhabitants per square mile (595.3/km2). There were 2,556 housing units at an average density of 672.6 per square mile (259.7/km2). Theracial makupof the city was 95.4% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.4%.[14]
Of the 2,336 households 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.1% were non-families. 29.5% of households were one person and 12.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age was 36.6 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
2000 census
editAt the2000 censusthere were 5,294 people, 2,158 households, and 1,404 families living in the city. The population density was 1,824.8 inhabitants per square mile (704.6/km2). There were 2,296 housing units at an average density of 791.4 per square mile (305.6/km2). Theracial makupof the city was 97.94% White, 0.32% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.66% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.53%.[3]
Of the 2,158 households 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.1% of households were one person and 15.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.
The age distribution was 25.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median household income was $34,821 and the median family income was $43,313. Males had a median income of $33,971 versus $24,016 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,872. About 6.6% of families and 10.0% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
editIt is within theRensselaer Central School Corporation(K-12 school district).[15]
Rensselaer has a public library, a branch of the Jasper County Public Library.[16]
Saint Joseph's Collegeis in Rensselaer.
Transportation
editRensselaer is served by Amtrak'sCardinal,which runs three days per week, stopping at theRensselaer Amtrakstation.
Notable people
edit- Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson,author
- Dan Brandenburg,National Football Leagueplayer,Buffalo Bills1996-1999[17]
- Steve Buyer,formerU.S. Representative
- Charles A. Halleck,Republicanleader of the U.S. House of Representatives
- James Frederick "Jimmy" Hanley,American songwriter
- Tom Harmon,1940Heisman Trophywinner
- Eli Isom,professional wrestler
- Michael Stephen Kanne,Judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Robert H. Milroy,Major General in the Union Army during the American Civil War
- Augustus Phillips,actor during thesilent filmera
References
edit- ^abcU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rensselaer, Indiana
- ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 16,2022.
- ^ab"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Rensselaer city, Indiana".American Factfinder.U.S. Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedMay 15,2018.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^Battle, J. H. (1883). "History of Jasper County".Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper, and Newton, Indiana.Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey and Company. pp. 508–514.
- ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.July 9, 2010.
- ^"National Register of Historic Places Listings".Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/09/12 through 4/13/12.National Park Service. April 20, 2012.
- ^"National Register of Historic Places Listings".Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/29/14 through 10/03/14.National Park Service. October 10, 2014.
- ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
- ^"G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedJuly 29,2015.
- ^Climate Summary for Rensselaer, Indiana
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedDecember 11,2012.
- ^"2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jasper County, IN"(PDF).U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^"Rensselaer Public Library, Headquarters".Jasper County Public Library.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
- ^Dan Brandenburg, LB at NFL
External links
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